Do you have a teenage son or nephew who hates reading? You are not alone! Reading is not always the most exciting thing to do. If you’re looking for books that will interest your teen, then this blog post is for you.

Penn Book has compiled a list of the best books for teenage guys who don’t like to read. These novels and non-fiction titles include topics such as history, science, sports, and more so there’s something on here that every guy can enjoy.

What Are The Benefits Of Reading As A Teen?

Teenagers who read will succeed. Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that students typically do well in school reading more than simply their coursework. The additional reading firstly broadens their vocabulary.

Additionally, it helps pupils develop their writing abilities by demonstrating how other authors express their ideas. Teenagers who read more profound literary works also develop the ability to manage complicated concepts.

Teenagers learn more knowledge the more they read. This results in a strong foundation of information beneficial in many different courses. Teens who read biographies, for instance, have a more excellent knowledge of the famous persons covered in history studies.

A strong performance on the verbal portion of a college admissions exam is another significant benefit of reading as a teenager. Reading is the only activity that develops vocabulary and comprehension abilities necessary to do well on these assessments.

Reading helps kids broaden their perspectives as they discover more about people and the world, in addition to assisting them in academic success.

Additionally, reading may help teenagers recognize that troubles are a part of everyone’s lives and may help them find answers to their own issues. Last but not least, reading is fun. It may be delightful for teenagers.

By showing interest in what they are reading and connecting it to other activities, parents may motivate their kids to continue reading. Try to bring the youngster to a race if the adolescent is enthralled by tales about racing. Make sure a teenager watches the movie if they like the book made into a film.

Best Books For Teenage Guys Who Don’t Like To Read 2024

#	Product	Rating	Price
1	I Don't Want to Be a Frog	1,276 Reviews	$8.99 $7.49	View on Amazon
2	'Shhh I'm Reading' Funny Ankle...	835 Reviews	$11.99	View on Amazon
3	Monkey Needs to Listen - A...	325 Reviews	$10.79	View on Amazon
4	The Book Thief	69,426 Reviews	$14.99 $7.83	View on Amazon
5	A Camping Spree with Mr....	3,024 Reviews	$16.99 $10.99	View on Amazon
6	1,000 Books to Read Before You...	827 Reviews	$40.00 $25.79	View on Amazon
7	The Basic Guide to How to Read...	200 Reviews	$13.00 $8.69	View on Amazon
8	The Secret Zoo	4,956 Reviews	$9.99	View on Amazon
9	The Way Things Work: Newly...	2,060 Reviews	$35.00 $17.87	View on Amazon
10	The Bad Guys Movie...	996 Reviews	$6.99 $5.24	View on Amazon

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

You can’t get a more accessible book than this one. Beah’s prose is concise, and students will be inspired to learn more about social justice.

The Job: True Tales from a New York City Police Officer by Steve Osborne

After listening to Osborne’s story, The Test, I found this book recommendation on The Moth podcast. This book is not only for criminal justice students. Osborne is a master storyteller.

All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen

Violet Adams is brilliant, but she can’t go to Illyria College. This is Violet’s steampunk London. She is a gifted young inventor who refuses to give up her dream. So, she adopts the identity of her twin brother and gets accepted into the school.

Violet’s personal and professional lives quickly get muddled up, as well as the lives of her friends. Headmaster Duke Ernest Illyria is friends with Violet and is in love with her.

However, he is torn by Violet’s strange attraction to Ashton; Violet’s alter ego. Ashton’s friend has a crush upon Cecily, who is Ashton’s ward. But she has only eyes for Ashton.

Beyond the romance confusion, there is also the ethical question of innovation. Is it okay to transfer parts from one animal into another in the hope of creating a better version? Do those with greater intelligence have to govern society?

This book is best for teens older than 13 years old, as it contains references to sexual orientation, relationships, strong language, and moral challenges.

A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back by Kevin Hazzard

Hazzard’s book is a great read for young men who are trying to decide what next steps they want to take in their lives. Hazzard left his writing career to become a paramedic.

This shift has a significant impact on his life and marriage. Be aware that his stories are often quite graphic and vivid (be warned! Hazzard’s stories are a reminder that fiction is sometimes stranger than truth.

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

Emily struggles at the Amherst School for Girls. After Paul, her boyfriend showed up at school with his gun, Emily’s parents sent her to Amherst School for Girls. Although he threatened Emily initially, he ended up taking his own life.

She writes poetry to help her learn, cope and grow. These verses give insight into Emily’s mental state. These flashbacks provide insight into Emily’s relationship with Paul as well as her life before Amherst. She believes that Emily Dickinson, a poet, and ASG alumni, speaks to her.

Teens will be captivated by the lyrical writing style and the scandalous storyline.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Starr Carter, sixteen years old, moves between two worlds. She lives in a poor neighborhood and attends a fancy suburban prep school. Starr is shocked to see her best friend Khalil, her childhood best friend, shot by a police officer. Khalil wasn’t armed.

His death soon became a national news story. Many have labeled him a thug or a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Khalil is the name of protesters who are marching in Khalil’s name.

Starr and her family are being intimidated by local cops and a drug lord. Everyone wants to know: What happened that night? Starr is the only one who can answer this question.

Starr’s actions or inactions could cause havoc within her community. It could also put her in danger.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

My condition is rarer than it is well known. I am allergic to all things. I haven’t left my home in 17 years. My mom and Carla, my nurse, are the only people I see.

One day, however, a truck comes to my door. I look out the window and see him. He is tall and lean, wearing a black T-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a black knit cap to cover his entire head. He stares at me and catches me staring. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

We may not be able to predict the future, but we can make some predictions. Olly is the one I’m certain to fall in love with. It will almost certainly be a disaster.

Fake ID by Lamar Giles

Nick Pearson hides in plain sight…

My name is not Nick Pearson.

You shouldn’t know where I came from or why my family moved here to Stepton, Virginia.

You shouldn’t know who I am or what my hair, eye, and skin colors are.

It’s not right that I tell you anything about Eli Cruz, my friend, and the big conspiracy he was about uncovering when he died shortly after I moved here, how I had to decide between solving the murder of his sister Reya and keeping it low key as the Program taught me, how Stepon changed my life.

But I will.

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

Many of my male students have never read a big book, and they often choose it during the memoir unit. They are surprised at how fast they finish and feel that angst they haven’t felt in a while, that feeling that “Well, now what do I read?”

Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Teens might be tempted to read this book just by the title. Jeffrey, Steven’s brother, is five years older than he. Jeffrey idolizes Steven, as does everyone else.

Jeffrey fell off a kitchen chair because he does the same thing. He hits his nose, and blood is everywhere. Steven’s mom rushes Jeffrey into the emergency room, where he is diagnosed with leukemia.

Now Steven’s entire world is crumbling. His mom must stay in a hospital miles away with Jeffrey. His father works all day and doesn’t talk about anything. Steven is unable to focus on school because his family is in financial trouble. He is afraid Jeffrey will die and cannot do anything about it.

This book will be very relatable to teens who have experienced family trauma. The book will also be helpful for those who haven’t been through trauma.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

After years of being critical about students who watch the movie and then reading the book, it’s time for me to stop being so harsh. Movies can often be used as a scaffold for understanding books.

If it works for the student, then so is it. Hillenbrand’s artistic ability in detail will be obvious to readers. Please encourage them to use portions of the book as mentor sentences to help with writing strategies.

The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

A student recommended this book to me. He walked into class Monday morning and stated that he had read one book over the weekend. While I tried to be nonchalant and not overly enthusiastic when I wrote down the title, however, as soon as class ended, I pulled out my phone and added the title to my Goodreads read next.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Teens will love this book, regardless of whether they’ve seen the motion picture adaptation. Cassie, a sixteen year old girl, desperately wants to save her brother from an alien invasion.

Five waves of aliens attacked the planet, causing the destruction of electronic devices and a plague that decimated 97 percent. The Silencers are human like aliens who seek to eliminate the survivors.

Cassie’s parents have died, and her 5 year old brother, a soldier in training, has been taken to a camp for children. She only wants to save him. She can’t do it alone. But, it’s almost impossible to trust anyone.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This novel’s narrator tells the reader the ending from the beginning. Although I’m afraid I have to disagree with the author’s decision, it allows me to focus on the characters, internal conflicts, and world building.

The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie (series)

Cassandra Leung considers her family’s business to be managing sea monsters. She’s been a Reckoner trainer in training ever since she could walk, raising the genetically engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate infested NeoPacific.

Cas’s dream to be a full time trainer is ruined when Santa Elena, the pirate queen, swoops in and grabs her from the bloodstained decks.

There is no time for mourning. An unhatched Reckoner pup is waiting for her on the pirate vessel. Santa Elena is determined to return the seas to her people with a monster of her very own. She needs a good trainer.

Cas is to take care of the pup and make sure that he leaves an imprint on her ship. Then, she will teach him how to fight pirates. Cas’s blood will paint the sea if she fails.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

A Facebook friend of an editor recommended this book. It was a book that I felt like I knew something special when I read. It’s like Julius Caesar meets The Hunger Games. Mars.

Last spring, the group of men reading it for their literature circle finished it before the deadline and coordinated a trip to the local bookstore to buy the sequel. It’s that good. Recommendations for next reading: Morning Star and Golden Son, the second and third books in Brown’s series.

Bronxwood by Coe Booth (non-contiguous series)

Tyrell is not able to cope with Tyrell’s father, who just got released from jail. It’s already bad enough that Tyrell’s brother Troy is in a foster home and that Tyrell’s mother is not helping him at all. He’s trying to settle down, but there’s something else in his way.

Tyrell’s father has other plans and doesn’t care if Tyrell agrees to follow them. Tyrell can see the crash coming, both with his father and with his other family members, but he isn’t sure if he can stop it. Or if he wants to.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Alexie’s graphic novel has both a narrative and graphic component. This is what makes Alexie’s story stick in an adolescent brain. Junior’s appeal is universal. While readers can sympathize with his situation, they also find it funny.

Seven, the Series by Various Authors

Although this book is not one in a series, it still deserves to be on this list. Each title is written by a different author and can be read in any order since they are all set simultaneously.

Are you curious?

David McLean, a great adventurer, died in his final days. He was also a beloved grandfather to seven young men. David’s grandsons discover that he left a letter to each of them, indicating their tasks.

The books’ boys are just as diverse as their authors’ writing styles. There are seven sequels and prequels to the series, which will keep teens interested for many months.

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak

While not every story from this collection is appropriate for all students, the author’s popularity will make them more appealing to others. When I’m writing fiction in my class, I use The Rematch, Novak’s humorous modern day sequel of The Tortoise and the Hare, as a mentor text.

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Kendall Fletcher was a troubled teenager even before her high school friends disappeared. She was plagued by her obsessive OCD, which made it difficult for her to find lost threads.

Although the disappearance of her first student shook the freshman at Cryer’s Cross, she was stunned when her friend disappeared.

Her mind in overdrive, she attempts the puzzle of the crimes that have been elusive to the police. This is a creepy, small town thriller featuring a captivating (and infinitely sympathetic) main character.

I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

Desi Lee believes that anything is possible when you have a plan. This is how she was elected president of her student body. Varsity soccer star. It’s how she will get into Stanford.

She has never been with a man. She’s a failure in romance and a stammering humiliation magnet whose failed flirtations have been a source of ridicule among her friends. Desi is determined to conquer her flirting failures when she meets the most beautiful human being ever to live.

Her father’s Korean dramas are her guide. The hapless heroine ends up in the arms of her true love in episode ten. It’s an easy formula, and Desi is quick to learn it.

Desi is armed with her K Drama Steps for True Love and sets out to find the mysterious artist Luca Drakos. There are boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes. Desi discovers that true love is more than drama when it turns into fun and games.

Buying Guide

Now that you have read our reviews and know the best books to read for teenage guys, you might be wondering how to choose the right one. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a book for your teenage son:

Subject matter

The subject matter of the book should be something that your son is interested in. If he is a fan of sports, look for a book about sports. If he is interested in history, look for a book about history.

Age appropriateness

Make sure the book is appropriate for your son’s age. You don’t want to give him a book that is too mature for him.

Language level

The language level of the book should be appropriate for your son. You don’t want to give him a book that is too difficult for him to understand.

Interest level

Make sure the book is interesting enough to hold your son’s attention. You don’t want to give him a book that is boring.

Conclusion

The best way to get reluctant readers interested in reading is by finding books they’re interested in. There are many great book series that teenage boys may enjoy and consider the benefits of reading, you’ll want them to be engaged with a good story for as long as possible.

We have compiled this list of some of our favorite books for teen guys who don’t like to read so it’s easier for you to find something your son will love! If any of these sound interesting or if there are other titles we missed, feel free to reach out and let us know what we can do better next time around. Happy Reading!

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Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best Books To Read For Teenage Guys: A Comprehensive Guide 2024